Governor's Office of Motion Picture and Television holds 'New York Loves Film Roadshow' in Buffalo

by jmaloni

Submitted

Thu, Oct 31st 2013 10:15 am

"Everything you wanted to know about filming in
New York, but were afraid to ask"

The Governor's Office of
Motion Picture and Television Development held a "New York Loves Film
Production Roadshow" Monday at WNED studios in Buffalo. Hosted by the Buffalo
Niagara Film Office, the workshop featured two 60-minute face-to-face
conversations with filmmakers, production support, small business owners, post-production
providers and New York government representatives discussing film production
practices and issues across the state.

"The latest effort by
Gov. Cuomo and the entire team to promote film and television in New York state,
the 'New York Loves Film Production Roadshow' was met with interest and
enthusiasm by local filmmakers in Woodstock earlier this month," said Empire State
Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams. "The workshops'
one-on-one approach, where filmmakers meet with state representatives to learn
about film production in the state, is a testament to our commitment to the
industry and its growth."

"The state's new
interactive approach puts the tools and answers filmmakers need at their fingertips,
giving them the support they need and showing New York state's commitment to
film projects, both large and small," said Gigi Semone, executive director of
the Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development. "These
workshops not only strengthen the connection between the state and filmmakers,
but make the process more streamlined. The individual attention given to
filmmakers allows us to focus on their individual needs, as every project has
different needs and challenges, and we want to emphasize the accessibility and
resources available to all."

"Buffalo has a really
vibrant and expanding film community," said Buffalo Film Commissioner Tim
Clark. "So it was really great to have the team from the New York state
film office here sitting down to talk with these local filmmakers and film
companies. It was a substantive discussion covering a lot of ground. I think
everybody not only appreciated the opportunity to highlight the talent and
resources available in Buffalo, but to discuss the benefits of the New York state
film tax credit program."

The more than two-dozen
workshop attendees ranged from first-time filmmakers to veteran producers and
the participants' reception was enormously positive.

"I saw a lot of new
people and a lot of older experienced people around the table today," said
Jim Gribbins, owner of Gribbins Films. "This kind of workshop offers those
of us working in the Buffalo film community a great forum to come together to
share ideas and talk about challenges with one another and to hear from the New
York state film office about the programs and policies they are working on to
help us build the business here in Buffalo."

"The New York state
film tax credits allow me to continue to use Buffalo as a canvas," said
producer/director Peter McGinnis. "They are incredibly important to me as a
filmmaker and I would not be able to keep making films here without them. This
workshop afforded an interesting exchange of ideas of how to continue to
support indigenous filmmakers and put that credit to use."

The "New York Loves Film
Production Roadshow" series was a hit at its debut in Woodstock and
additional workshops would be scheduled in upcoming months.

Empire
State Development is New York's chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to
promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and
economic opportunities, increase revenues to the state and its municipalities,
and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans,
grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to
enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support
prosperous communities across New York state. ESD is also the primary
administrative agency overseeing Cuomo's Regional Economic Development Councils
and the marketing of "I Love NY," the state's iconic tourism brand. For more
information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.